Bala Kanda · Sarga 31 of 77 · 24 verses
Toward Mithila and the Great Bow
The next morning the brothers present themselves to Vishvamitra: “We are your servants; command us.” The sages answer: Janaka, king of Mithila, is about to hold a most righteous sacrifice, and they are going. Rama should come too and see a wonderful bow kept there, given long ago by the gods: no god, gandharva, asura, rakshasa or man can string it, and many mighty princes have tried and failed. Janaka received it as the fruit of a sacrifice and worships it in his palace with perfumes and incense.
Vishvamitra bids farewell to the forest deities, saying he will go north to the Himalaya along the Ganga, and sets out, followed by the sages in a hundred carts, and even by the deer and birds of the hermitage, until he sends them back. At sunset they camp on the bank of the Shona river, bathe, tend the fires and sit around Vishvamitra. Rama, curious, asks about this rich and lovely country, and the sage begins to tell its story.
Press › to begin with verse 1.
अथ तां रजनीं तत्र कृतार्थौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । ऊषतुर्मुदितौ वीरौ प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना ॥ १ ॥
The two heroes, Rama and Lakshmana, their purpose achieved, spent that night there, glad, with joyful hearts.
अपना प्रयोजन पूरा करके दोनों वीर राम और लक्ष्मण ने वह रात वहाँ प्रसन्न होकर, आनंदित मन से बिताई।
Commentary on the whole sarga
Toward Mithila and the Great Bow 1 min read.
Read the commentary CommentaryNot scripture “Their purpose achieved” (kritarthau ). The brothers sleep happily after their first real victory. Valmiki lets them rest. Joy after work well done is part of the good life.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां कृतपौर्वाह्णिकक्रियौ । विश्वामित्रमृषींश्चान्यान्सहितावभिजग्मतुः ॥ २ ॥
When the night had dawned, having done their morning rites, together they went to Vishvamitra and the other sages.
रात बीतकर सवेरा होने पर, प्रातःकाल के कर्म करके, वे दोनों साथ-साथ विश्वामित्र और दूसरे मुनियों के पास गए।
CommentaryNot scripture Morning again, rites again. The pattern of the journey holds: every day begins in prayer.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
अभिवाद्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् । ऊचतुः परमोदारं वाक्यं मधुरभाषिणौ ॥ ३ ॥
Saluting the best of sages, blazing like fire, the two sweet-spoken ones said most noble words:
अग्नि जैसे दमकते मुनिश्रेष्ठ को प्रणाम करके दोनों मधुरभाषी भाइयों ने अत्यंत उत्तम वचन कहे:
CommentaryNot scripture Vishvamitra “blazing like fire” after completing his rite. The brothers are “sweet-spoken” (madhura-bhashinau ). Valmiki rarely misses a chance to note how Rama speaks.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
इमौ स्म मुनिशार्दूल किङ्करौ समुपागतौ । आज्ञापय मुनिश्रेष्ठ शासनं करवाव किम् ॥ ४ ॥
“Here we are, tiger among sages, your servants, come before you. Command us, best of sages: what order shall we carry out?”
“मुनिसिंह, ये हम आपके सेवक आपके सामने उपस्थित हैं। मुनिश्रेष्ठ, आज्ञा दीजिए: हम कौन-सा आदेश पूरा करें?”
CommentaryNot scripture “Here we are, your servants. Command us.” Victorious princes, yet they still present themselves as servants. Success has not changed their humility.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
एवमुक्ते तयोर्वाक्ये सर्व एव महर्षयः । विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य रामं वचनमब्रुवन् ॥ ५ ॥
When they had said this, all the great sages, with Vishvamitra at their head, said to Rama:
उनके ऐसा कहने पर विश्वामित्र को आगे करके सब महर्षियों ने राम से कहा:
CommentaryNot scripture The answer comes from all the sages together, with Vishvamitra at their head. A new journey is a shared decision.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
मैथिलस्य नरश्रेष्ठ जनकस्य भविष्यति । यज्ञः परमधर्मिष्ठस्तत्र यास्यामहे वयम् ॥ ६ ॥
“Best of men, there will be a most righteous sacrifice of Janaka, king of Mithila. We will go there.
“नरश्रेष्ठ, मिथिला के राजा जनक का एक अत्यंत धर्ममय यज्ञ होने वाला है। हम वहाँ जाएँगे।
CommentaryNot scripture Janaka, king of Mithila, is holding a sacrifice. We met his name in sarga 13, first on the list of invited kings. Now the princes are headed toward his kingdom, and toward Sita.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
त्वं चैव नरशार्दूल सहास्माभिर्गमिष्यसि । अद्भुतं च धनूरत्नं तत्र त्वं द्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥ ७ ॥
“And you too, tiger among men, will go with us. You should see a wonderful jewel of a bow there.
“और नरसिंह, तुम भी हमारे साथ चलोगे। वहाँ तुम्हें एक अद्भुत रत्न जैसा धनुष देखना चाहिए।
CommentaryNot scripture “You should see a wonderful jewel of a bow.” The sages do not mention a marriage. They speak only of the bow. The reader, who knows what is coming, smiles.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
तद्धि पूर्वं नरश्रेष्ठ दत्तं सदसि दैवतैः । अप्रमेयबलं घोरं मखे परमभास्वरम् ॥ ८ ॥
“That bow, best of men, was given long ago by the gods in an assembly: of immeasurable strength, terrible, most radiant, at a sacrifice.
“नरश्रेष्ठ, वह धनुष बहुत पहले एक सभा में, एक यज्ञ में, देवताओं ने दिया था: अपार बल वाला, भयानक, अत्यंत तेजस्वी।
CommentaryNot scripture The bow was given by the gods long ago, immeasurably strong, terrible and radiant. Its full story, as the bow of Shiva, will be told when they arrive.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
नास्य देवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरा न च राक्षसाः । कर्तुमारोपणं शक्ता न कथञ्चन मानुषाः ॥ ९ ॥
“Neither gods nor gandharvas, neither asuras nor rakshasas can string it, nor men in any way.
“न देवता, न गंधर्व, न असुर, न राक्षस उस पर डोरी चढ़ा सकते हैं, और न मनुष्य किसी भी तरह।
CommentaryNot scripture Not gods, gandharvas, asuras, rakshasas, nor men can string it. The same list as Ravana’s boon, with one difference: here humans are included. The bow is beyond everyone, even men.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
धनुषस्तस्य वीर्यं हि जिज्ञासन्तो महीक्षितः । न शेकुरारोपयितुं राजपुत्रा महाबलाः ॥ १० ॥
“Lords of the earth wishing to test the strength of that bow, mighty princes, could not string it.
“उस धनुष के बल की परीक्षा लेने के इच्छुक पृथ्वी के राजा, बलवान राजकुमार, उस पर डोरी नहीं चढ़ा सके।
CommentaryNot scripture Kings and princes have come to test it and failed. The bow has become a challenge famous across the land.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
तद्धनुर्नरशार्दूल मैथिलस्य महात्मनः । तत्र द्रक्ष्यसि काकुत्स्थ यज्ञं च परमाद्भुतम् ॥ ११ ॥
“That bow of the great-souled king of Mithila you will see there, tiger among men, Kakutstha, and a most wonderful sacrifice.
“नरसिंह काकुत्स्थ, मिथिला के महात्मा राजा का वह धनुष, और एक अत्यंत अद्भुत यज्ञ, तुम वहाँ देखोगे।
CommentaryNot scripture Vishvamitra repeats: you will see the bow, and a wonderful sacrifice. The bow is the bait for a young warrior’s curiosity.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
तद्धि यज्ञफलं तेन मैथिलेनोत्तमं धनुः । याचितं नरशार्दूल सुनाभं सर्वदैवतैः ॥ १२ ॥
“That excellent bow, with its fine grip, was asked for by the king of Mithila from all the gods as the fruit of a sacrifice, tiger among men.
“नरसिंह, सुंदर मूठ वाला वह उत्तम धनुष मिथिला के राजा ने एक यज्ञ के फल के रूप में सब देवताओं से माँगा था।
CommentaryNot scripture Janaka asked the gods for this bow as the fruit of a sacrifice. It was a sacred gift, not a war trophy.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
आयागभूतं नृपतेस्तस्य वेश्मनि राघव । अर्चितं विविधैर्गन्धैर्धूपैश्चागुरुगन्धिभिः ॥ १३ ॥
“It is kept as an object of worship in that king’s palace, Raghava, honoured with various perfumes and with incense fragrant with aloe.”
“राघव, वह उस राजा के महल में पूजा की वस्तु के रूप में रखा है, तरह-तरह की सुगंधों और अगर की सुगंध वाली धूप से पूजित।”
CommentaryNot scripture The bow is worshipped in the palace with perfumes and incense of aloe. In India, weapons and tools are still honoured with worship, especially on festival days like Ayudha Puja. Janaka’s bow is a holy object.
Scene 1 of 2 · The sages tell Rama of the great bow kept and worshipped in King Janaka’s palace at Mithila.
एवमुक्त्वा मुनिवरः प्रस्थानमकरोत् तदा । सर्षिसङ्घः सकाकुत्स्थ आमन्त्र्य वनदेवताः ॥ १४ ॥
Having said this, the best of sages set out, with the hosts of sages and with Kakutstha, taking leave of the forest deities:
यह कहकर मुनिश्रेष्ठ, मुनियों के समूहों और काकुत्स्थ के साथ, वन के देवताओं से विदा लेकर चल पड़े:
CommentaryNot scripture Vishvamitra takes leave of the forest deities (vana-devatah ). Even trees and places have their spirits, and a courteous sage says goodbye to them.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु गमिष्यामि सिद्धः सिद्धाश्रमादहम् । उत्तरे जाह्नवीतीरे हिमवन्तं शिलोच्चयम् ॥ १५ ॥
“Farewell to you all. Having attained success, I go from Siddhashrama to the Himalaya, the mountain on the north bank of the Jahnavi.”
“आप सबको विदा। सिद्धि पाकर मैं सिद्धाश्रम से जाह्नवी के उत्तरी तट पर हिमालय पर्वत की ओर जाता हूँ।”
CommentaryNot scripture “Having attained success, I go to the Himalaya.” The sage’s plan is to travel north, and Mithila lies on the way.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूलः कौशिकः स तपोधनः । उत्तरां दिशमुद्दिश्य प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे ॥ १६ ॥
Saying this, the tiger among sages, Kaushika, rich in austerity, made ready to depart, facing the northern direction.
यह कहकर तप के धनी मुनिसिंह कौशिक उत्तर दिशा की ओर मुख करके जाने को तैयार हुए।
CommentaryNot scripture He faces north. Direction matters in Indian thought: the north is the direction of the Himalaya, of the gods, of spiritual ascent.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
तं व्रजन्तं मुनिवरमन्वगादनुसारिणाम् । शकटीशतमात्रं तु प्रयाणे ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥ १७ ॥
As the best of sages went, the expounders of Brahman who followed him set out with a full hundred carts.
जब मुनिश्रेष्ठ चले, तब उनके पीछे चलने वाले ब्रह्मवादी पूरी सौ गाड़ियों के साथ चल पड़े।
CommentaryNot scripture A hundred carts follow, full of the sages’ belongings and the materials for their rites. A great procession of learning.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
मृगपक्षिगणाश्चैव सिद्धाश्रमनिवासिनः । अनुजग्मुर्महात्मानं विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम् ॥ १८ ॥
And the herds of deer and flocks of birds that lived in Siddhashrama followed the great-souled Vishvamitra, rich in austerity.
और सिद्धाश्रम में रहने वाले हिरणों के झुंड और पक्षियों के समूह भी तप के धनी महात्मा विश्वामित्र के पीछे चल पड़े।
CommentaryNot scripture Even the deer and birds of Siddhashrama follow Vishvamitra. The animals love the sage. It is one of the sweetest images in the Bala Kanda.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
निवर्तयामास ततः स ऋषि सन्घः स पक्षिणः । ते गत्वा दूरम् अध्वानम् लम्बमाने दिवाकरे ॥ १९ ॥
Then he turned back the birds and creatures, along with the hosts of sages who were to stay. Having gone a long way, as the sun was sinking,
तब उन्होंने पक्षियों और प्राणियों को, और वहीं रहने वाले मुनियों के समूहों को लौटा दिया। बहुत दूर जाकर, जब सूर्य डूब रहा था,
CommentaryNot scripture He gently sends them back, with the sages who are to stay. Love must sometimes say: stay here. Then the long walk until sunset.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
वासं चक्रुर्मुनिगणाः शोणाकूले समाहिताः । तेऽस्तं गते दिनकरे स्नात्वा हुतहुताशनाः ॥ २० ॥
the hosts of sages made camp, collected, on the bank of the Shona. When the sun had set, they bathed and made offerings into the fire,
मुनियों के समूहों ने एकाग्र होकर शोण नदी के तट पर पड़ाव डाला। सूर्य अस्त होने पर उन्होंने स्नान किया और अग्नि में आहुतियाँ दीं,
CommentaryNot scripture They camp on the bank of the Shona (today’s Son river, a tributary of the Ganga). Evening bath, evening offerings. The rhythm of the road again.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य निषेदुरमितौजसः । रामोऽपि सहसौमित्रिर्मुनींस्तानभिपूज्य च ॥ २१ ॥
and those of boundless power sat down with Vishvamitra before them. Rama too, with Saumitri, honoured those sages
और अपार प्रभाव वाले वे विश्वामित्र को आगे करके बैठ गए। राम ने भी सौमित्रि के साथ उन मुनियों का सम्मान किया
CommentaryNot scripture The sages sit with Vishvamitra before them. Rama and Lakshmana honour them. The evening gathering is a time for stories.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
अग्रतो निषसादाथ विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः । अथ रामो महातेजा विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम् ॥ २२ ॥
and sat down in front of the wise Vishvamitra. Then the radiant Rama
और बुद्धिमान विश्वामित्र के सामने बैठ गए। तब तेजस्वी राम ने
CommentaryNot scripture Rama sits before his teacher. The setting is perfect for a tale: firelight, a river, the sages listening.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
पप्रच्छ मुनिशार्दूलं कौतूहलसमन्वितम् । भगवन् को न्वयं देशः समृद्धवनशोभितः ॥ २३ ॥
asked Vishvamitra, rich in austerity, tiger among sages, full of curiosity: “Lord, what is this country, adorned with rich forests?
तप के धनी मुनिसिंह विश्वामित्र से उत्सुकता से पूछा: “भगवन, समृद्ध वनों से सजा यह कौन-सा देश है?
CommentaryNot scripture “What is this country, adorned with rich forests?” Rama’s curiosity again opens a door. Every place on this journey has a story, and Rama always asks.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रं ते वक्तुमर्हसि तत्त्वतः । चोदितो रामवाक्येन कथयामास सुव्रतः । तस्य देशस्य निखिलमृषिमध्ये महातपाः ॥ २४ ॥
“I wish to hear; blessings on you. Please tell me truly.” Urged by Rama’s words, the great ascetic of good vows told, in the midst of the sages, everything about that country.
“मैं सुनना चाहता हूँ; आपका कल्याण हो। कृपया मुझे ठीक-ठीक बताइए।” राम के वचनों से प्रेरित होकर उत्तम व्रत वाले महातपस्वी ने मुनियों के बीच उस देश के बारे में सब कुछ बताया।
CommentaryNot scripture “Please tell me truly.” Vishvamitra answers “in the midst of the sages”. The next sarga begins a long sequence of stories, the history of Vishvamitra’s own ancestors and of the land itself.
Scene 2 of 2 · Vishvamitra sets out north with a hundred carts; even the deer and birds follow, until they camp by the Shona at dusk.
